Oslo Grand Prix is an annual Group One harness event that takes place at Bjerke Racetrack in Oslo, Norway.[1] The competition was inaugurated in 1966 and is regarded as Norway's biggest trotting event.[2][3] It is raced over 2,100 meters and is part of the European Grand Circuit. The overall purse for the 2009 event was 2.87 million Norwegian kroner (NOK), equalling approximately US$427,000 or €308,000.[2][4] The fastest winning time in the history of the race is 1:11.5, run by L'Amiral Mauzun in 2008.[5]

Oslo Grand Prix
Group One International race
LocationBjerke Racetrack
Oslo, Norway
Inaugurated1966
Race typeHarness race for standardbred trotters
Websitewww.bjerke.no/Oslo-Grand-Prix
Race information
Distance2,100 meters (1.31 mile)
TrackLeft-handed 1,000 meter track (0.62 mile)
QualificationInvitational
Purse≈US$427,000 (NOK 2.87 million, ≈€308,000)

Racing conditions edit

Oslo Grand Prix is since 1981 been decided through a race over 2,100 meter. Before that, the event had different looks. In the debut year, 1966, the event consisted of two heats over different distances (1,600 and 2,100 meters). The same eight horses competed in both heats and the winner was the horse with the best total ranking. These conditions were altered the second year, 1967. Two heats were still used, but this year they were over 1,700 and 2,100 meters, with richer horses starting 20 meters behind. 1973 the event went back to being decided over one 1,600 and one 2,100 heat. Between 1976 and 1980, 16 horses competed, divided into two elimination heats, from which a number of horses progressed to the final the same day. In 1976, both the eliminations and the final were over 1,700 meters. In 1978 autostart (a motorized gate) was introduced, and the Oslo Grand Prixs of 1978-1980 consisted of eliminations heat over 1,600 meters followed by finals over 2,100 meters. From 1981, the present conditions have been ruling. One single race over 2,100 meters, started by a motorized gate.[6]

The 2012 Oslo Grand Prix edit

May 13 2012

  1.   Roxane Grif - Eric Raffin
  2.   Yarrah Boko - Kai Johansen
  3.   Quarcio du Chene - Björn Goop
  4.   Timoko - Richard Westerink
  5.   Arch Madness - Trond Smedshammer
  6.   Commander Crowe - Christophe Martens
  7.   Viking Frecel - Vidar Hop
  8.   Windsong Geant - Rick Zeron
  9.   Beanie M.M. - Johnny Takter
  10.   Joke Face - Lutfi Kolgjini

Past winners edit

Horses with most wins edit

  • 2 - Copiad (1994, 1995)
  • 2 - Gidde Palema (2003, 2004)
  • 2 - Grande Frances (1976, 1978)
  • 2 - Rex Rodney (1986, 1987)[5]

Drivers with most wins edit

Sires with most winning offsprings edit

  • 2 - Nevele Pride (Hickory Almahurst, Meadow Roland)
  • 2 - Noble Victory (E.O. Brunn, Noble Action)
  • 2 - Texas (Nordin Hanover, Copiad)[5]

Countries, number of wins edit

Based on the nationalities of the winning horses' owners:

Fastest winner edit

Auto start (1978-) edit

Short distance (1,600 m) edit
  • 1:15,8 (km rate) - Madison Avenue (1978) and Gadames (1980)[6]
Middle distance (2,100 m) edit
  • 1:11.5 (km rate) - L'Amiral Mauzun (2008)[6]

Volt start (1966-1976) edit

Short distance (1,600 - 1,700 m) edit
  • 1:18.1 (km rate) - Noble Action (1972)[6]
Middle distance (≈2,100 m) edit
  • 1:20,6 (km rate) - Molnets Broder (1975) (won the longer of that year's two races and finished second overall)[6]

All winners of Oslo Grand Prix edit

Year Winner Driver Trainer Owner Km. Time
1966 Scott Protector Karsten Buer Karsten Buer Asbjørn Jensen   1:23.0
1967 Xanthe Gösta Nordin Robert Westergren Robert Westergren   1:23.6
1968 Race cancelled
1969 Baron Gruff Gösta Nordin Gösta Nordin Stall Gruff   1:23.5
1970 Race cancelled
1971 Unor Lars Axelsson Lars Axelsson Stall Montigny   1:19.5
1972 Noble Action Sören Nordin Sören Nordin Stall Hak / Stall Idre   1:18.1
1973 Gaby Bulwark Sören Nordin Sören Nordin Stall Rol Christ / Fello / Opal   1:18.6
1974 Boett Sören Norberg Sören Norberg Karl Adolfsson   1:21.0
1975 Hassan Star Kjell P. Dahlström Kjell P. Dahlström Ulla Dahlström   1:19.1
1976 Grande Frances Ulf Thoresen Bengt Arvidsson Stall Oskar   1:19.7
1977 Race cancelled
1978 Grande Frances Ulf Thoresen Bengt Arvidsson Stall Oskar   1:17.0
1979 Hillion Brillouard Philippe Allaire Christian Riviere Ch. Riviere   1:19.9
1980 Express Gaxe Gunnar Axelryd Gunnar Axelryd Stall Bafata   1:17.1
1981 Pamir Brodde Karl Erik Nilsson Karl Erik Nilsson Stall Point   1:16.3
1982 Zorrino Tommy Hanné Tommy Hanné Ingvar Andersson   1:18.9
1983 E.O. Brunn Bo William Takter Bo William Takter Stall Tranen   1:15.6
1984 Hickory Almahurst Ulf Nordin Ulf Nordin M. C. Andersen   1:16.3
1985 Ogorek Michel Roussel Michel Roussel Jean Pachoud   1:16.0
1986 Rex Rodney Kjell Håkonsen Kjell Håkonsen Torleif Thu   1:14.7
1987 Rex Rodney Kjell Håkonsen Kjell Håkonsen Torleif Thu   1:13.7
1988 Sugarcane Hanover Gunnar Eggen Gunnar Eggen Stall Cheval   1:12.5
1989 Ourasi Michel Marcel Gougeon Jean Rene Gougeon R. Ostheimer   1:13.5
1990 Meadow Roland Preben Kjærsgaard Preben Kjærsgaard M. Duckert / Stald E.H. / Stut. Focus   1:13.8
1991 Peace Corps Stig H. Johansson Stig H. Johansson AB Gnägget   1:14.1
1992 Sea Cove Joseph Verbeeck Harald Grendel Gestut Cicero   1:14.6
1993 Nordin Hanover Olle Goop Olle Goop Håkan Andersson   1:14.3
1994 Copiad Erik Berglöf Erik Berglöf Stall Succé   1:12.7
1995 Copiad Erik Berglöf Erik Berglöf Stall Succé   1:12.7
1996 Ina Scot Helen A. Johansson Kjell P. Dahlström Ina Q AB / Kjell Dahlström AB   1:12.9
1997 Zoogin Åke Svanstedt Åke Svanstedt Håkan Anderssons Åkeri   1:14.6
1998 Huxtable Hornline Joseph Verbeeck Anders Lindqvist Leverre International S.A.   1:13.2
1999 Ganymede Jean Pierre Dubois Jean Pierre Dubois Daniel Wildenstein   1:12.6
2000 Victory Tilly Stig H. Johansson Stig H. Johansson Stall Kalas   1:12.0
2001 Giant Cat Nicolas Roussel Nicolas Roussel Mme. Bernard Bessiere   1:12.1
2002 Brads Photo Wilhelm Pal Holger Ehlert Scuderia Vilenzo   1:13.9
2003 Gidde Palema Åke Svanstedt Åke Svanstedt Stall Palema   1:12.2
2004 Gidde Palema Åke Svanstedt Åke Svanstedt Stall Palema   1:11.7
2005 Steinlager Per Oleg Midtfjeld Per Oleg Midtfjeld Knut Olausson   1:12.5
2006 Mara Bourbon Erik Adielsson Jean Pierre Dubois Jean Pierre Dubois   1:13.2
2007 Super Light Jörgen Westerholm Jörgen Westerholm Stall Velvet Trav AB   1:12.2
2008 L’Amiral Mauzun Tony Le Beller Jean-Philippe Ducher Comte Paul de Senneville   1:11.5
2009 Russel November Hugo Langeweg, Jr Hugo Langeweg, Jr Stal Amsterdam   1:14.3
2010 Lisa America Jorma Kontio Jerry Riordan Guida Italia Sc   1:11.7
2011 Arch Madness Björn Goop Trond Smedshammer Marc D. Goldberg / Willow Pond LLC   1:11.5
2012 Commander Crowe Christophe Martens Fabrice Souloy Snogarps Gård AB   1:11.5
2013 Sebastian K. Åke Svanstedt Åke Svanstedt Knutsson Trotting AB   1:12.8
2014 Univers de Pan Philippe Daugeard Philippe Daugeard M. Olivier Horvath   1:11.9
2015 B.B.S. Sugarlight Peter Untersteiner Fredrik Solberg Stall Sugarlight & Gunnar Karlsen   1:11.3
2016 Your Highness Bjørn Goop Fabrice Souloy P.V.Racing Stable HB & Ullo AB   1:10.5
2017 Twister Bi Christoffer Eriksson Jerry Riordan Pasquale Ciccarelli   1:12.6
2018 Evil Enok M.E. Noralf Brækken Noralf Brækken Stall Forza Fugla   1:11.1
2019 Vitruvio Jorma Kontio Alessandro Gocciadoro Scuderia Pink & Black S.R   1:11.6
2020 Blé du Gers Per Oleg Midtfjeld Frode Hamre Ecurie J.M. Rancoule   1:10.0
2021 Blé du Gers Åsbjörn Tengsareid Frode Hamre Ecurie J.M. Rancoule   1:12.5
2022 Stoletheshow Frode Hamre Frode Hamre Global Glide AB   1:10.5

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "2009 Group I races calendar" (PDF). uet-trot.net. European Trotting Union (UET). Retrieved 2009-04-29.[permanent dead link]
  2. ^ a b "OGP_innbydelse" (PDF). bjerke.no. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-07-24. Retrieved 2009-04-29.
  3. ^ Bonsdorf, Karsten (2005-05-17). "Steinlager: Norwegian national hero". harnesslink.com. Retrieved 2009-04-29.
  4. ^ In the conversion from NOK to USD, the rates of 2009-04-29 have been used.
  5. ^ a b c d "Oslo Grand Prix". qhurth.com (in Swedish). Retrieved 2009-04-29.
  6. ^ a b c d e "Samtlige premielister OGP". bjerke.no (in Norwegian). Archived from the original on 2008-09-19. Retrieved 2009-04-29.